Penn State’s Bill O’Brien in the running for more coaching hardware

Another day, another Bill O’Brien finalist nomination for national coach of the year. 
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On Monday, the new Penn State head coach was named a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year by the Football Writers Association of America. 
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Today, he was picked in the final running for the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year. 
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Bill O’Brien already has been named the top coach in the Big Ten. Now, he’s up for three national awards, too.

O’Brien already is on the watch list for the Bear Bryant Coach of the Year. 
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And he already was presented with the Big Ten’s Dave McClain Coach of the Year (media) and Hayes-Schembechler Coach of the Year (coaches) awards. 
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The Liberty Mutual? It recognizes coaches who “demonstrate sportsmanship, integrity, responsibility and excellence both on and off the field.” 
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Other finalists for the Liberty Mutual award: Brian Kelly (Notre Dame), Urban Meyer (Ohio State), Jim Mora, Jr. (UCLA), Mark Richt (Georgia), Nick Saban (Alabama), Bill Snyder (Kansas State), Charlie Strong (Louisville), Kevin Sumlin (Texas A&M) and Dabo Swinney (Clemson).
Today through Dec. 20, fans can vote for the Liberty Mutual award by visiting coachoftheyear.com on their PC, tablet or mobile device and posting a pre-populated tweet. 
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Also, a selection committee of more than 50 College Football Hall of Fame players and coaches, as well as national college football media, will evaluate the coaches for the award. 
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The final vote is split between fans (20 percent), College Football Hall of Fame (55) and media (25). 
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The winner will be announced the morning of the national title game on Jan. 7 in South Florida. The winner will receive a $50,000 donation from Liberty Mutual to the charity or charities of his choice, as well as a $20,000 scholarship grant in their name to their school’s alumni association. 
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Nittany Nation is the place to go for the latest news and rumblings about the Penn State football program. Our team of contributors, led by longtime Nittany Lion beat reporter Frank Bodani, will offer perspectives and insight on PSU from the present and past, along with coverage of York County's unique connections to Penn State football.